There are three (3) Elementary Trustee seats open this year: two 3-year seats and one 1-year seat. The deadline for candidates to file for election is March 23, 2017. Individuals interested in running for the School Board should contact the District Business Office at (406) 522-6042.

At this time, incumbents Heide Arneson and Greg Neil have filed for the 3-year seats and incumbent Gary Lusin has filed for the 1-year seat. The District offered Trustee candidates the opportunity to provide a brief informational biography. Biographies that have been submitted are shown below.

Heide Arneson:Heide Arneson is an Air Force veteran who worked in research and development before moving to Bozeman twenty years ago. Heide volunteered in the Bozeman schools as her boys continued on to graduation. After participating in the early stages of the Long Range Strategic plan, she decided to run for school board nine years ago to help make the great Bozeman schools even better. Heide is currently an adjunct professor at Gallatin College in the aviation program, working towards her master’s in education, and volunteering for several local nonprofit organizations. As Vice Chair of the school board, Heide enjoys listening to the community to help understand what is needed to improve our schools.

Gary Lusin:Gary Lusin has been in Bozeman since 1981 and has had two children go through Bozeman Public Schools, both doing very well. Gary was elected to the Board in 2005 and has served since. He is currently the Municipal Director from the Bozeman Board to the Montana Schools Boards Association Board, which allows him to participate in state wide education issues. Gary's main focus on the Board is to listen to the community and provide the education our community expects in a cost effective way. His goal also is to embrace a model of collaboration to achieve our dynamic Long Range Strategic Plan and to lead and support our administration and teachers in providing an outstanding educational opportunity to the children of our community.

Greg Neil:Greg Neil is a partner at First West Insurance in Bozeman and joined the firm in 2005. He coaches many youth sports throughout the year including Blitzz Micro soccer and YMCA basketball and also sits on the Bozeman United Methodist Church Board of Trustees. He graduated from Bozeman High School in 1993 and Montana State University with a bachelor’s degree in Business-Marketing in 1998. Greg and his wife Kara have four young children.
Greg was appointed to the School Board in January 2017 to fill the seat vacated by Bruce Grubbs. In the appointment process the Board interviewed several highly qualified candidates and selected Greg.